How a Toolbox Helped Me Get Organized!

 i just purchased this very usable rusty big ol' metal toolbox

from Kara at LuLu Belle's Junk Trunk at Needful Things Addiction - 

the store where my homewardFOUND shop is located.

(hazard of the vintage industry... we buy each other's stuff!)

admittedly, i bought it because of the patina and color. it's my thing!

but i knew that with all the compartments and shelves inside, 

it would come in handy in my studio/office.

so i brought it home, sat it down on the floor, snapped a few photos... and saw THIS:

lord, i need help. i'm so Disney that i see animated faces in everything.

ANYWAY....

as i was sitting at my desk on the computer, i needed something.

and when i went to get it, i couldn't find it. frustrating, right?
well, it was office supplies. and my office supplies are all over the place - 

as in, not in one place but in many drawers and buckets and shelves.

talk about an AHA moment!
continue reading to see what i did:

Covered in Canvas

 while homewardFOUND is generally all about seasonal decor ideas,
sometimes I like to pop in ideas for furniture, too...
all totally do-able projects for you to try out!

this dresser was found on the curb. free.
With lines like the ones on those drawers, I couldn't pass her up!

the case was solid, but the veneer on top and on the drawers was just wrecked.
no amount of putty and paint was going to make her presentable...

she went beyond needing mere 'makeup' into the realm of 'plastic surgery'!

while I was sanding her down, I had a brainstorm...

the dropcloth that she was sitting on in the prep room had some great texture.

i looked at the drawers, and then at the dropcloth, and that light bulb went on:
 cover the entire dresser with a new canvas dropcloth!

dropcloths are a great way to get a LOT of fabric for a ridiculously low price

and they come in many sizes and weights. 

i used the heaviest weight for this project, which covered up all of the 'blemishes' in her complexion.

continue reading to see what i did!

Ready to ReDecorate!

it's a new year, and new things are soon to be 'in store'!

this new year has me filled with new energy... how about you?!
i've had a bit of recalculation in my head about what i want / need hwF to be,

and much of that is coming from the responses that the shop and merchandise in it

have been getting from you - my readers and customers (my HOMEees!)

* i watch what you click 'like' or ♥ and comment on, both here and on social media.

* i take into account what posts are getting views, and from where.

*i notice what you've been pinning and re-pinning from the blog and my boards.

* i keep an eye on what is selling in the shop - and what isn't -

and i have been asking myself one very simple question:

 "if this thing doesn't sell, would i put it in MY home?"

sometimes, the answer is a resounding 'nope'. and i'm not okay with that.

i loved my initial concept for the homewardFOUND blog AND shop - 

but it doesn't fit anymore. it's not where i am going personally, or as a designer.

so, i'm gonna' change it all up!

<< click 'continue reading' to see what's coming!

Simple Winter Table

winter, for me, is all about sparkle and texture.

rough with smooth, crystal with wood, tarnished silver with crisp white.

mixing it up wherever i can brings a warmth and comfort to the 'bareness' of rooms

after the holiday overload is gone...

my winter color / texture palette this year is
white, crystal, rough wood, and glowing copper.

the simple tablesetting here shows yet ANOTHER way that i use an everyday item:

my standard white ceramic dishes.
you've seen them oh, about a million times here on the blog - 

i do that purposefully, to show you how

a very BASIC item can be re-imagined and presented in fresh ways each season.

continue reading for more details!

Welcome 2018 with a Junk Wreath!

2018: project one!
i took down the holiday decor in our entryway and needed to replace it...

admittedly, i've been too busy to even PLAN anything for that area.
but a quick look at what wreaths were on hand turned up two bare reed circles,

and that was all the inspiration that i needed!

tied together with a length of twine, the two reed wreaths are more substantial
(because in art and design, repetition adds strength).

i rummaged through a box of 'odds and ends' and found a slew of things to use

to add personality and interest to the wreath...

what's on there?
there are two tarnished silver cups, some galvanized construction tape, spring, and gift tag. 

an old outdoor faucet, a wire light bulb cage, a tiny shovel, a coffee measuring spoon,

a rusty letter O, a bling-y shower curtain ring, and a champagne cork with cage.

an odd assortment, they hail from miscellaneous sources 

(my old home, my Dad's workbench, gifts from friends, flea markets)

but they all have a connection to my story - and to each other,

which shows up when they are mounted together on the wreath using more twine.

i think they look a lot like a floral arrangement, 

but that might be just my weird sense of design talking ;)

 in any case, they reflect what I think of as a 'winter palette' - 

greys, blacks, charcoals, and varying shades of brown mixed with sparkling glass.

it may not be cold here where i live, but this combination evokes a 'winter-y' mood for me!

continue reading to see where it ended up!

Take the Party With You Tonight!

it's New Years' Eve!

time to pop the corks, pour the bubbly, and start celebrating!

 i've just got to share this nifty way to transport sparkling wine and glasses to an event -
whether you are heading to the roof to watch fireworks or the ball drop at midnight,
or to the neighbor's place for some revelry,
it's a perfect way to take the party with you!

Click 'Continue Reading' for the tutorial...

Get Warmer for Winter!

With the approach of the New Year, we all seem to crave a change....
whether it's a personal makeover, a new resolution, 

or a way to make our rooms feel 'not empty' after the Holiday decor & trees are gone.

You'll find inspiration here on homewardFOUND decor!

 I offer posts with ideas for warming up your home in winter, 

for decorating with a fresh whitewashed palette or subdued neutrals,

and for organizing your office / craft room with style...

you can even get a jump on your February / Valentine's Day decor!

... click on the 'WINTER' tab in my sidebar to find more content

(You'll find ideas for every season of the year by clicking on the links in my sidebar.)

Thank you for coming by to visit...

and may this new year bring you blessings and joy!

Recycling Christmas!

I LOVE changing up my color schemes each year, 

combining ornaments in new ways

and mixing what I have to get a whole new look...
(see more of this year's 'Ombre' tree - on the left - here)

How about you?
Do you experiment each year, or do you stick with the 'tried and true' favorites?!
What are your favorite colors for your Christmas Decor?

the mission statement of HOMEWARDfound decor

is basically 'work with what we already have' (or can get CHEAP)
and is born out of my love for making things over -
so I rethink, reimagine, redesign, recycle, and reuse everything I have all.year.long.

continue reading to see some of them!